First Black Female Assistant DA Followed Dream to Get There

Karen Willis was sworn in by Judge Mike R. Jones on Friday, joining the 15 assistant district attorneys in the 19th Judicial District -- and making history in the process. Willis, 41, became the first black female assistant district attorney in Montgomery and Robertson County. She will also serve as a U.S. assistant attorney for Middle Tennessee. Willis will specialize in the prosecuting of federal gun and drug cases and will work with the U.S. district attorney of Middle Tennessee and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to put violent criminals in prison. It was not an easy journey as a single mother -- who served in the Navy, has been an electrician, a jail booking clerk and a police officer -- but she never gave up her dream to become a lawyer. Read her story in the Leaf-Chronicle